Jeremy Corbyn has sparked outrage after refusing five times to unequivocally condemn the actions of the IRA as he responded to revelations in The Telegraph that MI5 opened a file on him about his links to the group.

The Labour leader was repeatedly asked to give his views on the militant faction but chose instead to state his opposition to "all bombing".

His remarks, which follow reports that intelligence services opened a file on him because of his close links to the group, prompted a Government minister who served in Northern Ireland to brand Mr Corbyn "extremist".

It came as Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, was also criticised for remarks she made in the 1980s when she declared...